New Bhoy Freddie set for Old Firm debut

CELTIC boss Neil Lennon has vowed to give marquee signing Freddie Ljungberg a New Year baptism of fire against Rangers.

Neil Lennon has vowed to give marquee signing Freddie Ljungberg a New Year baptism of fire []

The veteran midfielder passed his medical yesterday and then agreed a deal until the end of the season.

The Swedish ace will put pen to paper tomorrow when
the transfer window re-opens and could be joined by Portuguese
international defender Marco Caneira.

Lennon is ready to plunge Ljungberg straight into
his squad for Sunday’s trip to Ibrox. The Celtic boss, speaking ahead of
the signing, said: “If he signs, then Freddie will be involved. He
might not start but he would definitely go into the squad.”

The former Arsenal star will become a free agent tomorrow, once his contract with MLS side Chicago Fire expires.

Ljungberg, who was also interesting Aston Villa,
had initially wanted an 18-month deal but has since agreed to a
short-term arrangement.

Lennon is delighted to have finally landed the
marquee signing he had been chasing after missing out on Sol Campbell,
Craig Bellamy, Jimmy Bullard and Robbie Keane in the last window.

He is now hoping Ljungberg can have the same impact
as Keane had last season when he finished top scorer after his loan
spell from Tottenham in the second half of the campaign.

And £1million-rated Sporting Lisbon stopper Caneira could also be a January addition.

The 31-year-old central defender is understood to have travelled to Glasgow for a look at the city and for talks with officials.

But the former Inter Milan and Valencia man is stalling on a move.

Caneira has been pinpointed as a leading candidate to bolster the shaky Hoops defence.

He has been frozen out at Sporting after a dispute
with coach Paulo Sergio and is desperate to quit the club even though
his deal runs until June 2012.

Celtic stepped in to give him a route out the Jose
Arvelade Stadium, but have been left in a sweat as the man capped 25
times for Portugal dithers on a deal.

Sporting are very keen to offload and are looking
at the possibility of Georgios Samaras heading to Portugal as part of
the transfer deal.

Caneira has vast experience having played at two
World Cups and represented Sporting, Benfica, Inter, Reggina, Bordeaux
and Valencia at club level.